The Social Networks of Older People: A Cross-National Analysis

1998 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 545
Author(s):  
Lori E. Weeks ◽  
Howard Litwin
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Older People ◽  
The Social ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National

scholarly journals A CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARISON OF THE SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS OF OLDER MEN AND WOMEN WHO LACK TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S564-S564
Author(s):  
Christine Mair ◽  
Kasey Knopp
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Family Ties ◽  
Traditional Family ◽  
The Social ◽  
Older Men And Women ◽  
Cross National

Abstract Existing literature on “aging alone” focuses on potential lack of support to “kinless” older adults who do not have traditional family ties (e.g., child, spouse; Margolis & Verdery, 2018), as well as the ways in which childless or unpartnered older adults may construct non-kin networks of support (e.g., friendship; Djundeva et al., 2018; Mair, 2019). In addition, older men’s and women’s social networks vary, with women reporting more network growth than men and potentially lower family involvement (Schwartz & Litwin, 2018). Finally, patterns of support (e.g., family care, friend interactions) differ by country context. However, it is unknown if and how the social networks of older adults who lack traditional family ties may differ by gender, as well as what forms of cross-national variation exist in these patterns. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, N=17 nations, N=53,247 adults aged 50+), we take advantage of a unique social support network module in this cross-national dataset to compare closeness, proximity, quality, and type of ties by gender among older childless and unpartnered men and women by country. Among those without traditional family ties, we find that older women may be advantaged in terms of social support compared to older men, but that this advantage varies by nation. We discuss the details and implications of these results regarding potential policy implications about the differential risks faced by older men and women who lack traditional family ties in various country contexts.

scholarly journals Social networks, accessed and mobilised social capital and the employment status of older workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 356-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaberi Gayen ◽  
Robert Raeside ◽  
Ronald McQuaid
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Older People ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of social networks, and the social capital embedded in them, to secure employment if someone had become unemployed after the age of 50 years and to reveal the process of accessing and mobilising that social capital. Design/methodology/approach A case study of a Scottish labour market was undertaken which involved an interview-based survey of those who became unemployed in their early 50’s and tried to regain employment. The interview had structured and unstructured parts which allowed both quantitative and qualitative analysis to compare those who were successful in regaining work with those who were not. The uniqueness of the paper is the use of social network components while controlling for other socio-economic and demographic variables in job search of older workers. Findings Those older people who were unemployed and, returned to employment (reemployed) had a higher proportion of contacts with higher prestige jobs, their job searching methods were mainly interpersonal and the rate of finding their last job via their social networks was higher than those who remained unemployed. Both groups mobilised social capital (MSC), but those reemployed accessed higher “quality” social capital. “Strong ties”, rather than “weak ties”, were found to be important in accessing and mobilising social capital for the older workers who returned to employment. Research limitations/implications This work is limited to a local labour market and is based on a small but informative sample. However, it does show that policy is required to allow older people to enhance their social networks by strengthening the social capital embedded in the networks. The results support the use of intermediaries as bridges to help compensate for older people who have weak social networks. Besides the policy implications, the paper also has two distinct research implications. First, the use of social network component to the existing literature of older workers’ job search. Second, exploring the type and relational strength with network members to explain older workers’ reemployment. Practical implications The paper illustrates that how accessed and MSC can be measured. Social implications As populations age, this work points to an approach to support older people to re-enter employment and to include them in society. Originality/value The paper extends social network and employment literature to fill gaps on how older people require to both access and mobilise social capital. The importance of “strong ties” in the reemployment of older workers contrasts with much of the literature on younger workers where the “strength of weak ties” so far has been regarded as essential for successful job search. Measures are forwarded to reveal the relevance of social capital. The policy value of the work is in suggesting ways to facilitate older people re-enter or remain in work and hence sustain their well-being.

Environmental Protest Cases: The City, The Countryside, and The Grassroots in Southern Europe

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kousis
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Environmental Activism ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Environmental Protest ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
The City ◽  
Cross National

Systematic cross-national analysis of environmental activism in urban and rural communities is nonexistent for Southern Europe. This article uses protest-case analysis to trace local environmental protest cases (not events) of urban and rural communities in Greece, Spain, and Portugal from the end of their dictatorial periods in the 1970s until 1994. The findings show a convergence between urban and rural environmental claims and protest actions, especially in the later period. Rural groups are more limited in terms of their social networks, and are less numerous than urban ones. A critical development during the twenty-year period is the emergence of a small but potent minority of urban and rural protesters. Findings show that they are (1) extensive and heterogeneous in terms of networks and claims, and (2) numerous and intensive in terms of collective action participation.

Soziale Teilhabe von älteren Menschen

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Older People ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Soziale Teilhabe ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Inclusive Policy ◽  
The Right

In this book, the social participation of older people in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland (multinational) is analysed in terms of income/property, health, housing and social networks (multidimensional). Drawing on the theory of French social solidarity, the author pinpoints the minimum provisions for a social contract which the members of society conclude with each other on the basis of experiences of inequality. In doing so, they recognise themselves as free and equal and secure themselves the right to comparable and largely similar living conditions. The gap between normative standards and social policy practice can be used to describe reform proposals for an inclusive policy for the elderly.

scholarly journals Public pensions and unmet medical need among older people: cross-national analysis of 16 European countries, 2004–2010

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Reeves ◽  
Martin McKee ◽  
Johan Mackenbach ◽  
Margaret Whitehead ◽  
David Stuckler
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Public Pensions ◽  
Medical Need ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document